The Story of a Classic.

The Aalto vase is a true design icon. Every vase has been handmade at the Iittala factory since 1936. Watch this documentary to learn all about Alvar Aalto's masterpiece.

The Origin of an Icon.

The Aalto vase is an icon of Finnish design. When it was introduced, it was an unconventional object, and a perfect example of Alvar Aalto's (1898–1976) free-flowing imagination. Aalto sent the first designs of the vase to a competition for works to exhibit at the Paris World Fair 1937. His anonymous entry titled Eskimoerindens skinnbuxa (The Eskimo Woman's Leather Breeches) won the first prize. It was a set of rough sketches of vases and dishes drawn with pencil, white ink and crayon on coloured paper. At the Paris World Fair a ten object collection was presented, and it was an instant sensation. Inquiries started pouring in about Aalto's poetic new vase design. A classic was born.

Alvar Aalto - The National Architect of Finland.

Alvar Aalto can well be called the Finnish national architect and designer. His signature vase is found in many homes and is the closest link most Finns have to the designer. Aalto first made his name as an architect, but his furniture and glassware designs are also staples of Scandinavian design. His furniture was often an extension of his architecture. Glassware, on the other hand, was an area where his spontaneity flourished. Whatever Aalto worked on, he was driven by his singular vision. A deep humanism runs through all the master's work. It works well with his openness to nature's influences and an unprejudiced attitude to the uses of technology. Aalto believed technology could be humanised. This combination was the base for unique designs on a broad scale from the Villa Mairea house to the Aalto vase.

Mouth blown since 1936.

It takes seven glassblowers to make an Aalto vase. Each of them has years of intense training in the many areas of glass craftsmanship. They preform the glass and then put it into a preheated mould. It is blown against the mould walls creating the shape of the vase. When this is done temperatures reach up to 1,100°C. Making an Aalto vase requires twelve work stages, sixteen hours and a great deal of craftsmanship and passion. Each vase is truly unique. A master blower can recognise his own handiwork as well as the kind of fingerprint of his most experienced colleagues.

Handmade in Iittala factory.

The Aalto vase has been made at the Iittala glass factory in Finland since it was first designed. The factory was built in the Iittala village in 1881 at a perfect location beside essentials such as wood, water and sand. For 75 years all Aalto vases have travelled from the same factory in the heart of Finland to wherever they are now, in homes around the world. The vase is made with skill, expertise and dedication that has been gathered and shared at the factory through its 130 years of operation.

A Recognised Classic.

The Aalto vase is the best-known Finnish design object. It is also one of the most famous and revered glassware in the world. Aalto's classic has earned a place in permanent collections of museums around the world including New York's MoMa. The vase's form is experimental and daring yet it has universal appeal. Aalto never explained where exactly he got the inspiration for the flowing shape, but there are many theories. It gives everyone the chance to make their own interpretation. Wherever the spark came from, one thing is certain: Aalto interpreted his inspiration in a way that elevated the design into a true masterpiece.

The Perfect Gift.

Alvar Aalto wanted to create design that is present in everyday life. He didn't define what use the object was for and let each person decide that for themselves. Nonetheless, accompanying the competition sketches in 1936 were typewritten notes where Aalto suggested that the vase and the other objects in the collection could be used for fruit, cacti or as a tray for serving food. Whichever way it is used, it will be a centre piece of the home's interior. The Aalto vase is a truly unique object, which is sure to be appreciated. Who would you give it to?